Process and device for degumming ramie and other similar fibers



Feb. 23, 1937. D, s. NE L 2,071,651

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DEGUMMING RAMIE AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBERS FiledSept. 25, 1935 I J WenfOr ZDCWZ'dSJVGZZ Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DEGUMMYING RAMIE AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBERSDavid s. Neill, Genoa, Italy Application September 25, 1935, Serial No.42,002 In Italy August 27, 1935 6 Claims.

This present invention is characterized in that the very adhesive gumwhich binds together the fine filaments of decorticated ramie (Chinagrass) can be completely removed by a very simple andeconomical process,and with mechanical means without having recourse to any chemicalreaction.

The process is essentially mechanical, inasmuch as the degumming isobtained by merely submitting the fiber to a suitable vibratory shakingafter a short treatment in an open keir with a light solution of hotwater and ordinary soda or potash soap. Neuter soaps, i. e. free of anexcess of alkali are preferable, and the water should be soft.

On the vibratory motion being applied (by the means hereinafterdescribed) at the proper moment, the filaments, by vibrating, shakethemselves free of the gummy substance which has become highly dilutedand possibly emulsified and deterge themselves one by one, so to say,retaining thereafter unaltered their natural qualities of strength,elasticity etc. By way of example, an embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the cage and the vibratory mechanicalshaking device;

Fig; 2 shows, in longitudinal section, one of the additional circulartrays which can be inserted into the cage; I

Fig. 3 shows, in a longitudinal section, the cage introduced into thekeir for the degumming operation. I

For degumming the fiber there are two ways of operating; but in either.case it is advisable to allow the fiber to soak for several hoursbeforehand in water before submitting it to the treatment proper, asthiswill remove a considerable portion of the coloring matter andfacilitate subsequent bleaching operations. first method, the fiber isimmerged in water either cold or already heated, with about 1% (of theweight of the water) or soap as aforesaid. The temperature is graduallyraised to 75-85 centidegrees (167 to 185 F.) and held at that for about30 minutes, and then raised to boiling point for two or .three' minutes.

Thereafter the fiber is extracted from the hot bath and plunged in coldwater, running preferably, and submitted to an energetic vibratoryshaking. Almost immediately the fiber will be observed to assume theaspect of a silky pulp the filaments disengaging themselves from eachother. .In less than a minute the operation is completed and the fiber,after being rinsed, always under According to a vibration, andpreferably in running water for the purpose also of eliminating theparticles of bark entangled in the fiber, is ready for the bleachingbath which if containing hypochl'orite of calcium as one of itsingredients will have the effect of 5 causing whatever little residue ofsoapy matter maybe still clinging to the filaments, to flocculate-thisflocculation being removed by the subsequent rinsing.

According to another method, at the outstart the process is the same asdescribed in method above indicated; then after the fiber has beenallowed to remain at a temperature of from 167 to 185 F. (75-85centidegrees) for about 30 minutes the vibratory motion is applied inthe same hot bath. The mass of fiber will at once assume the aspect of asilky pulp and the filaments will become disengaged. The fiber isthereupon withdrawn from the soapy solution, is rinsedunder vibration inclean hot water, and immerged in a third bath of hot water which israised for a short while to boiling point, vibration being appliedcontinually in the meantime.

Rinsing in cold water, preferably running, follows; also bleachingprocess as per the first method.

- Of the said two methods it will be found that for the finest grades offiber, the first and most simple method will give the best result.

.50 that the vibratory action maybe transmitted in the desiredconditions to the entire mass of fiber, the latter should be placed insuch a manner as to enable the mechanical device whereby the vibrationis produced to effectively exercise its effect in the proper direction.

The appliance hereinafter described is one of the means especiallyadapted to obtain the abovesaid result.

As shown by the annexed drawing it consists substantially in a circularcage, Fig. 1 (the-dimen- 40 sions whereof will vary according to thequantity of fiber it is found desirable to treat at a time), open at thetop and closed at the bottom by a platform A as hereinafter described. I

The topring B is joined to the platform by means of four equidistantrods C, C, C",C"', which will serve also -as legs, the ends whereof areembossed in rubber. The rods are strongly bound to each other by crossedstays I.

The Whole system should be extremely rigid and to this end the metalemployed for its construction'should be particularly adapted to resistvibration and suitably protected from corrosion caused by the bleachingliquor.

On two of the abovesaid rods which face each other, (I. i. C and C) arefixed, outside of the cage, the vibrating apparatuses. They consistrespectively in a supporting block E and E rigidly attached to the cageand connected with the bottom and lateral sections thereof by means ofstrong stays. The supporting block carries on the top part an axis F andF on which revolves, on a. horizontal plane, a metal disc, G'and G, ofsuch' dimensions and weight as to produce the necessary vibration.

The vibration is obtained by the axis of rotation of the disc being madeeccentric and the higher the eccentricity the more ample the vibrationwill be, of course. By suitable means the axis of rotation of the disccan be displaced so as to regulate the amplitude of the vibration.

The rotation of the disc is obtained by means of a driving belt onthe'pulley H, H which is attached to the disc or by any other suitablemechanical device. The intensity of the vibration giill be inratio tothe rotational velocity of the The transmission of the vibration to theentire mass of fiber under treatment is obtained by the following means.

The upper surface of platform A, at the bottom of the cage, made ofsteel wire netting (such as used for spring mattresses) carries a numberof stainless steel needles solidly attached to the netting, protrudingabout 4 inches therefrom. The diameter ofthe needles will be that of anordinary knitting needle.

They are placed at a distance of about of an inch from each other, andin rows similarly separated from each other by about V of an inch; Theneedles of each row are so placed as to form with those of the next rowthe vertices of an equilateral triangle.

The fiber, on being removed from the water after the first soaking, isspread out but not pressed on the platform in a layer corresponding inthickness to the length of the needles, and perpendicularly to thedirection that the vibratory motion will have, i. e. perpendicular"tothe rods which carry the vibratoryapparatuses.

When this first layer is ready, the second layer is spread out in a likemanner on a circular tray L (Fig. 2), made of wire netting same asplatform A of a suitable diameter for easy insertion in the tiplying thenumber of the vibrating units, the

efiect of which is increased by the fact that the elastic wire nettinganswers with extraordinary intensity to the.vibration transmitted to it.

Further trays, in all respects identical to L, are then loaded withfiber and placed in the cage,

the one on top of the other, so as to completely fill it.

The cage with its load of fiber, being now ready for the degummingoperation, it is hoisted by some suitable gear, brought over the keir orvat containing the solution of water and soap and lowered into same.Thereafter the process is as respectively described for the twoaforesaid methods.

Of course there is nothing to prevent that the cage, instead of having acircular shape should have a square one, if this is found more suitable,In the latter case the vibratory devices will be fixed respectively onthe two opposite sides of the cage and the trays instead of beingcircular will be square. I

It is obvious that since the fiber remains throughout the variousoperations embedded on the vibratory needles, the entanglement of thefiber becomes impossible.

The process can be usefully extended to other textile fibers similar toChina grass. The phenomena determined by a vibratory motion applied whenthe fiber has reached the proper stage of treatment, cause thedisengagement and detersion of the filaments.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for degumming ramie and other like fibers which comprisessoaking the fibers in a solution of soft water and washing soap tosoften the gummy substance adhering to the fibers and subjecting thefibers to a vibratory motion.

2. Process for degumming ramie and other fibers of a like nature whichcomprises boiling the fibers in an open keir in a solution of soft waterand ordinary washing soap for the purpose of softening the gummysubstance adhering to the fibers and thereafter subjecting the fibers to8. vi-

, bratory motion.

3. Process for degumming ramie and other like fibers which comprisessubjecting the fibers to a hot saponaceous bath, plunging the fibersinto cold water and thereafter subjecting the fibers to vibratorymotion.

4. A process for degumming ramie and other like fibers which comprisesboiling the fibers in a hot soapy solution until the gummy substanceadhering to the fibers is softened and then subjecting the fibers tovibratory motion until the said substances are emulsified and separatedfrom the fibers.

5. Apparatus for degumming ramie and other fibers comprising anopen-topped cage, a wire platform forming the bottom of the cage, aseries of needles with rounded points fixed in said platform in spacedrelation to each other, a series of wire trays mounted above saidplatform in superposed relation, similar needles projecting upwardly anddownwardly from each of said trays, the needles being embedded in thefibers on the platform and on the trays, and means for vibrating thecage.

6. Apparatus for degumming ramie and other like fibers comprising acage, needles mounted in the cage for engaging the fibers, supportingmeans at each side of the cage, rotary spindles carried by said means,eccentric discs carried by said spindles and means for rotating thespindles and discs for imparting vibratory movement to the cage.

-. DAVID S.

